DNA Micro Edit: 400 lives risked due to lack of safety measures

The recent chemical leakage in Delhi's Tughlakabad area which caused over 400 students to go to hospital could have nearly turned into a disaster. The worse thing is that this could have been easily avoided had the authorities put in place precautionary measures. It is shocking that the Inland Container Depot, Tughlakabad situated near Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi which is one of the largest hubs of multi-modal transport in the Indian sub-continent has no safety measures put in place.

This is all the more necessary here because the Okhla Industrial Area is spread over 44 hectares and facilitates the need of importers and exporters in the country. Four full length rail lines are laid on the Customs area which bring the containers by train from Gateway ports such as Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Chennai, besides bringing the containers by road from other ports such as Haldia, Calcutta and Kandla, etc.

The other thing to note is that there were warning signs. Locals here at Tughlakabad had said that they were facing burning sensations in their eyes and other symptoms which were ignored. A system must be put in place to ensure that people can complain to state agencies and non-government organisations so that such incidents can be investigated before actual tragedy strikes. After this, a group of experts must investigate the area and submit their report, following which, quick action can be taken. India has already suffered many gas tragedies and we need to ensure that it never happens again.